Businesses are urged to give their opinion on Gatwick Airport expansion

Nov 14, 2014

The government appointed Airports Commission opened its public consultation on airport expansion this month giving people and businesses in the Coastal West Sussex area the opportunity to have their say on the three options available for a new runway in the South East.

This is the first time that Gatwick has been considered for expansion and the Commission’s consultation document underlines the fact that it is now seen as a very credible alternative to expansion at Heathrow.

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick CEO, said of the consultation: “The Airport Commission’s consultation (published today) underlines why momentum is gathering behind Gatwick’s case for airport expansion in the South East…Their report today indicates why expansion at Gatwick best answers all the questions. It can give the country two world class airports”.

Urging businesses across Coastal West Sussex to respond directly, Rosemary French, Executive Director of the Gatwick Diamond Initiative commented: “We encourage business leaders to respond within the three month period so that business views can be heard and taken into account in the final recommendation.

“Businesses are often too busy to take notice of such consultations but this one will have a significant future trading impact for their business and for UK plc. This is the opportunity to influence decisions which will decide aviation capacity until 2050.”

The consultation period runs through to February 3rd 2015 and recommendation to the government will be made by the Chair of the Commission, Sir Howard Davies, after the May 2015 election. He will have considered the shortlisted options of a second runway at Gatwick or a third runway at Heathrow and the public will be able to review the results in a detailed published document.